In November 2016, Mary’s mother passed away, causing her to become distracted from her own health. “My mother’s health took a turn and she died in the November, so my mind and focus was elsewhere. Some weeks later I noticed that sensation in my throat was still there and it had gotten worse. I could now see a fairly substantial lump on the right-hand side when I opened my mouth. I could still eat, drink, and talk okay, but I knew something wasn’t right.”

Mary’s work as a nurse then led her to cover a few days at a different GP surgery. In December 2016, and one day before the practice opened, she asked the doctor to take a look at her throat. “Straight away she was concerned. She advised me to go back to my own GP and push for a referral to a consultant, especially because my symptoms had persisted for more than 6 weeks at this point. I went back to my GP and insisted on the referral which she did. It was mid-December when I was seen to by Prof. Patrick Sheehan. Things moved quickly from this point. He suspected a tumour and I was straight in for a biopsy and bloods. I can’t thank him and his staff enough for how kind and considerate they were during what was a very worrying and difficult period.”

Mary found coming to terms with her diagnosis challenging. “I was floored by it. I wasn’t a smoker. I don’t drink alcohol. I was fit and ran half-marathons. It’s such a hard cancer to get your head around. Even explaining it to people – it’s not breast, or lung – mine was ‘tonsillar cancer’. After discussing options with Prof. Sheehan, I decided on the surgery. That was done in January 2017. In removing the tumour, some of my tongue and soft palate were removed, as well as some lymph nodes around my neck as there had been minimal spread here.” After her surgery was complete, the cancer was completely removed, and thankfully, no further treatment was required.

“After the operation, I really had no pain, but was so nervous about eating and drinking. I also had an extremely dry mouth, and this does persist a little bit even now. My taste buds were completely gone for about a month, but this went back to normal, and I have no issues whatsoever with taste, eating and drinking now.”

Just five months after surgery, Mary recovered enough to cycle the Ring of Beara in May 2017. “That was emotional, but it gave me something to aim towards. I wasn’t as fast as I usually would be, but I got to the finish line.” She continued to attend regular check-ups, at first every three months, then every six months, and now they are annual.

Mary will be 59 in September and she currently works part-time as a nurse in her local community hospital. “I love my work, and I spend my free time cycling as part of my local cycling group, I take our dog out walking for four to five miles each day. I’m also active in the HSE’s Patient and Public Involvement in Research (PPI) group and really enjoy this. It’s been wonderful to meet and connect with people who have been on a similar journey to me. I also can’t thank the team at ARC House in Bantry enough for the supports they offered. Through this community, I feel I have found my tribe.”

Mary says she decided to share her story to encourage anybody who notices persistent changes around their mouth or neck to get them checked out. “I think that we are the experts in our own bodies. If something feels wrong, insist on getting a second opinion – especially for any sore throat, ulcer, lump or unexplained issue that is not resolving after 3 weeks. You have to be your own advocate, and push if things don’t feel right for you.”